SBS wins Commonwealth Human Rights Program Award

January 2008

SBS has won the Amnesty International Award for Human Rights Program at the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s Broadcasting Awards for the documentary Race for the Beach.

The documentary looks at the struggles facing a group of young Muslims as they attempt to become surf life savers at Sydney’s Cronulla Beach following the race riots of 2005.

Race for the Beach chronicles the journey of 20-year-old Muslim woman Mecca Laalaa to become Australia’s first female Muslim lifeguard including donning a red and gold ‘Burqini’ to help Mecca in her quest.

Commissioned by SBS in association with the BBC, Race for the Beach was directed by Alan Erson, the Executive Producers were Margie Bryant and Roger Graef and the documentary was produced by Aline Jacques.

The Award was presented to SBS Managing Director Shaun Brown during the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s all-Commonwealth conference held last week.